Lesson 6.1: Minnesota Reasonable Force Law
Purpose of This Lesson
Minnesota law allows force only in limited circumstances.
This lesson introduces Minnesota Statute 609.06, the reasonable force statute. Deadly force is a separate issue and is covered in the next lesson.
Reasonable Force
Under Minnesota Statute 609.06, reasonable force may be used when resisting, or helping another person resist, an offense against the person.
The key word is reasonable.
Force is not justified simply because a person is angry, offended, scared, or frustrated. The force used must fit the circumstances and must be connected to a lawful reason.
Self, Others, and Property
Minnesota law also addresses reasonable force by a person in lawful possession of real or personal property, or by another person assisting, when resisting trespass or unlawful interference with that property.
That does not mean every conflict justifies force.
It also does not mean property automatically justifies deadly force. Defense of property and deadly force are not the same thing.
Any use of force will be judged later by what happened, what the person reasonably believed, what the person did, and whether the amount of force used was reasonable under the circumstances.
Davey Defense Standard
At Davey Defense, students are taught that force is a last resort.
Just walk away. Live another day.
Avoid trouble when you can. Leave when you can. Use words when they work. Use force only when Minnesota law allows it and the situation requires it.
If force is ever used, the facts must support why it was necessary, reasonable, and lawful.